Aquaculture feed, particularly for carnivorous species like salmon, depends on fishmeal and fish oil derived from wild-caught forage fish, creating a welfare chain extending beyond farm boundaries.
The welfare chain of carnivorous aquaculture extends far beyond the farm gate to the billions of wild forage fish caught annually for feed production. These fish experience capture stress, crowding in nets, and death methods that vary in their welfare impact. The welfare case for reducing fishmeal dependence in aquaculture aligns with sustainability arguments: both point toward alternative protein sources that reduce pressure on wild forage fish populations. Consumer choice of certified sustainable seafood and support for alternative protein research both contribute to this transition.